Joann, a marriage and family therapist, is the developer of the federally recognized innovative and promising intervention, Practice Self-Regulation™ being studied through multi-year federal grants around the country. She supports a small, diverse, and highly specialized team of national trainers and consultants—recognized specialists in resilience, positive development across the lifespan, trauma, violence prevention, and sexual health.

Joann has made hundreds of presentations throughout North America, Europe, and Africa focusing on optimizing resilience in all life domains. The PS-R team continues this work throughout the United States.

Joann is the 2018 recipient of the Gail Burns-Smith award for significant contributions to preventing sexual violence through partnerships between victim/survivor advocates and professionals working with those who have caused sexual violence. It is jointly given by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA).

In addition to numerous professional book chapters Joann authored the children’s book, Everybody Gets Upset Sometimes (2023), Everyone Can Be Trauma Informed (2021), Optimizing Resilience Through A Trauma-Informed Approach for Adolescent Sexual Health (2024, 2nd Edition). She has two workbooks for youth: Practice Self-Regulation (2021 2nd Edition) and Practice Self-Regulation for Sexual Health (2022, 3rd Edition). She co-authored Stop It! A Practical Guide for Youth Violence Prevention, (2012).